The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-01-22
LIST MINE FOUND.
a.. l.iclt aud Unexpected Discovery off
California Prospect ".

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California Prospect ".
Some Of our readers are familiar
with Il tradition that the Jesuit fathers
who once conducted the San Buonyen-
tura. Santa Barbara, San Inez, La
Puriss;ma and san Fernando missions
once successfully worked Il mine To-
Gated probably in what is now Ventura
County. Tradition has it that the mine
was worked near the beginning Of the
present century, after which it was COW
cred with earth and all trace of its
existence destroyed as far rs possible.
from which time its location has been
q mvstery to ali but the few who
worked il and were familiar with its
history.
An old Indian whom the writer
knew, and who died n few years ago i n
Santa Barbara County, aged. accord
ing To the baptismal record of Santa
Barbara Mission, one hundred and five
yeHrs. claimed to know where the rich
mine was located. but he fully believed
that he would he struck dead should
be reveal it. He said that he and
other friendly Indians who knew of it
when the mouth was covered up and
the mine abandoned. if we mistake not
on account of hostile tribes, had taken
Il solemn oath not to let any one know
the place where it was located. and
that they had been assured that treach-
cry on their part would result in sure
and sudden death. He, and we be-
lieve all others who profcssed to know
any thing about its existence, were
unanimous in saying it vas on the side
of & mountain. and that it was a tunnel.
But those who profcssed to know any
thing concerning its location have
passed away. aud by many it had be-
come 10 be regarded as mere tradition;
and as much time. money and labor
had been expended in searching for it
many had come to believe its existence
wa mythical.
Bat Il short time ago a professional
prospoetor, Il gentleman thoroughly
cnny-rflnt with the mines of Arizona.
New Mexico and Colorado, tracing the
Calico ledge into this county, acct.
dentally came upon an old tunnel pene-
trttiur the side of the mountain. which
le believes to be the lost Jesuit mine.
He roughly estimates the length to be
three hundred or four hundred feet,
with the sides ''coviicd" in various
directions. The gentleman and his
partner were attracted to the spot by
SraiH- cottonwood trees growing on the
side of a mountain. and after reach
Ing the spot they found them grow,
ing in the mouth Of \ tunnel.
Their appearance indicated that cot
tonwood limbs had been placed on end
1T the mouth of the tunnel and covered
with earth, the dampncss from within
having caused them to grow. But the
earth cavel in. and washed by the rains
of probably sixty or seventy winters,
exposed the tunnel which had been so
eftectUally concealed.
Near by We're found the remains of
old smolting works. and n silver brick
weighing about one pound, which the
prospectors exhibited to us. was picked
up. This prospector. who is an unusu-
ally Intelligent man, first traced the
ledge into Arizona, then return
ing he traced it into Ventura County,
and believes that he has found a ledge
Of mineral far more valuable than the
orany otherminc yet discov-
cred in San Bernardino County. The
specimens exhibited to lis indicated
rich ore. some of them carrying free
gold, and if once developed may be a
source of immense revenue to this
The ledge is an extensive one
and can he easily workcd--Fcntara
(CG!.J Free Press.